Golf swing training club with adjustable weight

ABSTRACT

The training club has a shaft which is of uniform diameter between a grip end and a head end and is provided with a plurality of spaced holes which extend through the shaft substantially perpendicular to the length of the shaft. A weighted cylinder is slidably mounted onto the shaft between the grip end and a head end. The weighted cylinder height is slightly less than the spacing between the shaft holes so that a pair of retainers each having a pin, may be removably positioned into the holes immediately above and below the weight thereby preventing movement of the weight along the shaft. With the weight secured along the shaft at any one of several locations by the retainers, a golfer may freely swing the training club without any fear of dislocating the weight. The weighted cylinder may be selected from a range of different weighted cylinders so that the actual total weight of the training club may be selected for the size and strength of the golfer. A small female golfer may for example choose to use a weighted cylinder of one pound or less while a large male golfer may select a weighted cylinder of several pounds or more. A manufacturer may choose to offer training clubs with different respective cylinder weights or make the club user-alterable such as by providing a removable golf club head (such as by threaded engagement with the head end of the shaft) and a plurality of different weight cylinders. In either such configuration, the preferred embodiment hereof provides the unique feature of changing weight location along the shaft by simply removing the retainers to different holes, thereby permitting adjustment of the swing inertia of the training club.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention pertains generally to the field of golfswing training aids and more specifically to a weighted golf club havinga weight which is adjustable in location along the club shaft.

[0003] 2. Background Art

[0004] It is well known in the golf club art that training aids whichhelp develop muscle memory can help a golfer develop a more consistentswing. Moreover, it is generally accepted that a weighted golf cub thatis considerably heavier than standard clubs used to actually play around of golf, can be beneficial in developing muscle memory. By way ofexample, U.S. Pat. No. 5,582,407 to Sorenson discloses one such golfswing training club which is homogeneously weighted along its length.One potential problem associated with such prior art weighted clubs isthat their weight is generally fixed and non-adjustable. Thus, whilethey may be useful in developing muscle memory, they may not be optimumfor all golfers of varying upper body strengths. Thus for example, a twohundred pound male golfer and a hundred pound female golfer would haveradically different needs in a weighted golf club training aid.Moreover, as a given golfer develops increased muscle memory, he or shemay wish to increase the inertia of the swing training club to furtherthe process. However, a training club of fixed and non-adjustableinertia does not provide such an opportunity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention solves the aforementioned problemassociated with prior art weighted golf club training aids. The solutionis provided in the form of adjustability of weight and weightdistribution. In a preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, the training club has a shaft which is of uniform diameterbetween a grip end and a head end and is provided with a plurality ofspaced holes which extend through the shaft substantially perpendicularto the length of the shaft. A weighted cylinder is slidably mounted ontothe shaft between the grip end and a head end. The weighted cylinderheight is slightly less than the spacing between the shaft holes so thata pair of retainers each having a pin, may be removably positioned intothe holes immediately above and below the weight thereby preventingmovement of the weight along the shaft. With the weight secured alongthe shaft at any one of several locations by the retainers, a golfer mayfreely swing the training club without any fear of dislocating theweight. The weighted cylinder may be selected from a range of differentweighted cylinders so that the actual total weight of the training clubmay be selected for the size and strength of the golfer. A small femalegolfer may for example choose to use a weighted cylinder of one pound orless while a large male golfer may select a weighted cylinder of severalpounds or more. A manufacturer may choose to offer training clubs withdifferent respective cylinder weights or make the club user-alterablesuch as by providing a removable golf club head (such as by threadedengagement with the head end of the shaft) and a plurality of differentweight cylinders. In either such configuration, the preferred embodimenthereof provides the unique feature of changing weight location along theshaft by simply removing the retainers to different holes, therebypermitting adjustment of the swing inertia of the training club. Thosehaving skill in the relevant art will readily appreciate that becauseangular inertia depends upon both the weight and the distance betweenthe center of gravity and the fulcrum, movement of the cylinder towardthe head end of the shaft, significantly increases the swing inertia ofthe training club.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The aforementioned objects and advantages of the presentinvention, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will bemore fully understood hereinafter as a result of a detailed descriptionof a preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the followingdrawings in which:

[0007]FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a preferred embodiment of theinvention;

[0008]FIG. 2 is a side view of the preferred embodiment alsoillustrating two alternative weight positions in phantom;

[0009]FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the slidable weight installed alongthe shaft of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1;

[0010]FIG. 4 is a partially cross-sectioned view of the weight and shaftas seen along lines 44 of FIG. 1, with only the shaft in section; and

[0011]FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a retainer used in the preferredembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0012] Referring to the accompanying drawings it will be seen that apreferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a training club10 having a shaft 12 upon which there is positioned co-axially a weight14. The shaft 12 terminates at one end in a grip 16 and at the other endin a head 18. In the illustrated embodiment, shaft 12 is substantiallysolid except for a plurality of thru-holes 20 which are equally spacedalong a substantial portion of the length of the shaft. The spacingbetween holes 20 along the length of shaft 12 is selected to be slightlygreater than the height of cylindrically-shaped weight 14. It will beunderstood that while the weight is cylindrical in shape in theillustrated embodiment, the invention need not be limited to a weighthaving a regular circular cylinder shape. Moreover, in the preferredembodiment, while weight 14 is made of solid steel except for a centralshaft passage 15, it could be readily made of other high specificgravity materials such as lead, iron or tungsten which would permitdifferent weight sizes as compared to the weight illustrated herein. Theactual weight magnitude may be virtually any practical amount dependingon the size, shape and material selected. In the preferred embodiment, aweight in the range of about 0.5 to 3.5 pounds is contemplated.

[0013] Adjustment of the position of weight 14 along shaft 12 is easilyaccomplished in the illustrated embodiment to selectively alter theswing inertia of training club 10. Such adjustment is facilitated byremovable retainers 22. In the preferred embodiment, each retainer 22comprises an elongated pin 24 secured to a finger ring 26 and having aspring-biased bearing member 28 closer to the pin end opposite the ring.The diameter of pin 24 is slightly smaller than the diameter of holes 20in shaft 12 so that the pins may be easily inserted in and removed fromthe holes to permit repositioning of weight 14 along shaft 12. By way ofexample, to move the weight 14 to another location along the shaft, suchas either of those shown in phantom in FIG. 2, retainers 22 are pulledout of their respective holes 20, the weight is repositioned, and theretainers are reinserted in corresponding holes above and below the newweight location.

[0014] Having thus disclosed a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, it will now be apparent that many variations may be madewithout altering the principal features of the invention. By way ofillustration, weight 14 and shaft 12 may be configured to permit aratcheting adjustment feature which would obviate retainers 22 andpermit more discrete adjustment positions of the weight along the shaft.Thus, it will be understood that the invention scope is not limited tothe illustrated embodiment, but only by the appended claims and theirequivalents.

I claim:
 1. A weighted golf club training aid comprising: a shaft havinga grip end and a head end; and a selectively moveable weight located onsaid shaft for slidable engagement therewith, said weight beingadjustably secured to said shaft at any one of a plurality of differentlocations along the shaft between said grip end and said head end. 2.The golf club training aid recited in claim 1 wherein said weightcomprises a cylinder having a passage for receiving said shaft.
 3. Thegolf club training aid recited in claim 1 wherein said shaft issubstantially solid.
 4. The golf club training aid recited in claim 1wherein said weight is substantially solid.
 5. The golf club trainingaid recited in claim 1 wherein said shaft comprises a plurality ofselectively spaced thru-holes, said training aid further comprising atleast one retainer having a pin for extending into any of saidthru-holes for securing said weight to said shaft at a selectedlocation.
 6. The golf club training aid recited in claim 5 which said atleast one retainer comprises a finger ring to facilitate removal andinsertion of said pin.
 7. The golf club training aid recited in claim 1wherein said weight has a mass in the range of about 0.5 to 3.5 pounds.8. A weighted golf club comprising: a shaft having a grip end and a headend; and a weighted member selectively positionable onto said shaft ateither of at least two spaced locations along said shaft between saidgrip end and said head end.
 9. The golf club training aid recited inclaim 8 wherein said shaft is substantially solid.
 10. The golf clubtraining aid recited in claim 8 wherein said weight is substantiallysolid.
 11. The golf club training aid recited in claim 8 wherein saidweight has a mass in the range of about 0.5 to 3.5 pounds.
 12. A methodfor providing a golf club training aid having an adjustable swinginertia; the method comprising the steps of: providing a golf club shafthaving a grip end and a head end; affixing a weight onto said shaft,said weight being slidable along said shaft between said grip end andsaid head end; and providing a retainer for selectively securing saidweight to said shaft at any one of a plurality of locations between saidgrip end and said head end.